Thursday, 22 December 2011

Top 50 Best MPG Motorcycles

Anyone who has purchased a car based on some "official" MPG figure and then found out that they are getting but a mere fraction of the economy they were promised will testify that fuel mileage figures are illusory at best. Fuel mileage is primarily determined by driving style and a driver who presses down on the accelerator as if he were trying to keep from cracking an egg under his foot can get as much as 50% better mileage than the green light drag jockey who believes that the accelerator is a toggle switch and it should be either ON or OFF.

Determining accurate motorcycle fuel mileage figures is even trickier than with automobiles. Not only is there no universal fuel mileage standard for two wheelers, but riding styles on motorcycles are only part of the equation. A couple of morbidly obese riders on their way back home from the Circus Circus Buffet are going to get far lower mileage on their 250 Rebel than a teenager on her way to ballet class. The passenger weight carried by a motorcycle is a far greater percentage of the total vehicle weight than in a car or truck.That is why this list of the 50 best fuel mileage motorcycles is approximate to the max and is most assuredly not definitive or all-encompassing. It is only a rough guide to some of the more fuel efficient motorcycles (not scooters) on the road today that get 50 MPG or more.

Lifan 200 Sport : 84

Yamaha TW200 : 75

Honda 125 Varadero : 74

Honda 200 Twinstar : 74

Honda XL185 : 74

Honda XL250S : 72

Kawasaki Ninja EX250R : 72

Yamaha Virago 250 : 71

Honda Nighthawk 250 : 70

Yamaha 125 Virago : 69

Hyosung GV250 : 68

Honda XL500 : 65

BMW F650GS : 63

Suzuki Intruder VL125 : 62

Yamaha XV535 Virago : 62

Buell Blast : 61

Honda CMX 250 : 60

Kawasaki Ninja 500R : 59

Yamaha YZF600R : 59

Yamaha XJ550 Seca : 58

Honda Shadow VLX : 57

Kawasaki KZ550 : 55

Suzuki LS650 Savage : 55

Suzuki GS425 : 54

Suzuki S50 Boulevard : 54

Suzuki V-Strom DL650 : 54

Honda Shadow Aero : 53

Suzuki Marauder 250 : 53

Honda CB350 : 52

Honda CX500 : 52

Yamaha XJ900 Seca : 52

Yamaha XS650 : 52

Kawasaki GPX250 : 51

Kawasaki Vulcan 800 Classic : 51

Suzuki C90 Boulevard : 51

Suzuki GS500 : 51

BMW R850R : 50

Honda CB400T Hawk : 50

Honda CX500C : 50

Honda V30 Magna : 50

Kawasaki 125 Eliminator : 50

Kawasaki 454 LTD : 50

Kawasaki EN500 Vulcan : 50

Kawasaki KLR650 : 50

Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 : 50

Suzuki C50 Boulevard : 50

Suzuki Katana GSX 750 : 50

Suzuki S83 Boulevard : 50

Yamaha FJ600 : 50

Yamaha FZ6 : 50

There seem to be some significant surprises in this list and not much should be made of them as the figures are anything but precise. However, we can look at the good showing put forth by the BMW F650GS, Buell Blast, Honda Shadow VLX, Suzuki LS650 Savage, and Suzuki V-Strom DL650 as indicators that there is some great mileage to be wrung out of the mid-range motorcycles. The Honda Shadow Aero as well as the Suzuki C90 Boulevard, Kawasaki Vulcan 800 Classic, BMW R850R and the super heavyweight Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 are the standouts in the big bike categories. You can only shake your head at why the Kawasaki 125 Eliminator gets the same mileage as its 1500 cc bigger brother! You know which one I'd rather ride!

Whichever motorcycle you decide to ride, you can always maximize your mileage by minimizing the weight it has to carry and the stress you put it under. Gentle acceleration and keeping just under the speed limit will work wonders for any motorcycle, from a Honda CB125 to a Triumph Rocket III 2300 cc.